why do "non-denominational" christians refuse to give their denomination a specific name?

Question

instead of claiming the name "Christians" or "Christianity" and imply that they are the 'real' and only Christians?

Answer 1

        I wouldn't think to speak for someone else's motives. However, since there is a lot of criticism being floated by non-believers against both religions and their associated denominations, it is possible such people are just trying to avoid some of the fall-out. It is not possible, though. Jesus said all men would hate those whom followed Him.

        So, I don't worry about what non-believers (or supposed believers) think of me, I'm very happy to proclaim from the mountain tops that I am a Seventh-day Adventist Christian and that I will be that until Christ Comes again in the Clouds of Glory.

God bless.

Answer 2

The answer is in 1 Corinthians Chapter 1:9-13. Paul warned Christians to not be divided. Non-denomonational is indeed a denomination, as is The Church of Jesus Christ, The Church of God, and others. The New Testament, however, never describes any building with its own name on it ( the 2nd Church of Jesrusalem). Scripture is clear (to me at least) that Christians are to be not-denominational, but I'm sure somebody has that name on a denomination too.
To agree with all denominations is to be Eccumenical (a denomination). To believe in all religions is to be universalist (a denomination). We are members one of the other by spiritual rebirth 1 Cor.12:13 and joining a church has nothing to do with that.

Answer 3

Firstly, in the New Testament, the churches were all named after the cities in their localities.
The first church was established in Jerusalem. Hence you had the Church In Jerusalem(Acts 8:1, 5:11). The Church in Rome, the Church in Corinth etc. Letters written by the apostles were addressed to the churches in that locality.
Today we have the epistles to the churches. Eg. The book of Romans was written to The church in Rome which at that time was just the believers who met in Rome.Over the course of time the churches got divided because of beliefs, doctrines ,opinions and ambition.
A denomination is a group of believers that take a particular name for eg The Wesleyan Church took its name from John Wesley. Following the beliefs of John Wesley you have the Wesleyan denomination. Over time you have many divisions coming into Christianity. Eg The Church of God, The Church of Christ,The Church of... etc.
Denominations are easy to form today because of the departure from the word of God , man's opinions and ambitions.If you read the Book of Acts, you will get a detailed account of the early churches.
Christianity have strayed from the original apostles teaching. How many denominations do you have in your city alone?
Many believers today desires to get back to the original teachings of the apostles and choose to not take a name. Acts 13:1
Today you have the local churches all over the world. There is the church in New York, The Church in Orlando etc.You have local churches all over the world not taking the name of a denomination but holding steadfastly to the word of God and going by the name of their locality.
We are all members in the Body of Christ.We need to love the Lord with all our heart.and know that he Body of Christ is made up of all born again believers. Where we meet does not make us "real and only Christians" What matters to the Lord is our intimacy and love for Him and our loving care for all the other members of His Body regardless to where they meet.

Answer 4

There are some churches that are not affiliated with any particular denomination. But many non-denominational churches are part of a network of churches that they claim are non-denominational, such as the Calvary Chapel churches, yet they all share the same beliefs and follow the same leaders. I think they like thinking that they are not part of the standard denominations like Methodist, Baptist and so on and they appeal to people who were burned by denominations and don't want to get burned again.

Answer 5

A person who says that he is a Christian is what he says he is. Not what you say what he is.

"why do "non-denominational" Christians refuse to give their denomination a specific name?"

Your question makes no sense. I'm a real Christian but I'm not the only one. You are the one who is implying that Christians are this way. When you point your finger at someone, look down at your hand. You will see three more fingers in your hand pointing right back to you.

Answer 6

When I read your question, the first thing I thought of is an organization that uses the slogan, "We're not a religion, we're an experience" to attract members and to distinguish itself from mainstream Christianity. This organization is a cult of course, and isn't Christian at all. Some churches don't give themselves a title because they don't want to be associated with a specific doctrine. In my experience, these churches, without exception, are being run by whack jobs who are exploiting the members, who are also whack jobs. It's like this huge dysfunctional family, but if you tell them they're dysfunctional, they take it as a compliment and a sign from God that they are the true church. Which leads me to my ultimate conclusion, that when it comes to many churches, the only appropriate slogan is, "Run, Forest, Run." Or in my case, "Run, Jennifer, Run."

Answer 7

Non denominational is a description but its not a name.

It merely indicates that this local Bible believing Christian Church not affiliated with any larger denominational organization.

Bible believing Christian don't claim that they are the only real believers. Well, I suppose some of them do, but they are in the minority.

Most of the rest of us, and I count myself in that group, recognize that there are lots of other good church which are members of one of many good, God honoring and Bible preaching denominational groups.

For example I'll give you a link below to about 50 good denominations. The membership list of the NAE = National Association of Evangelicals.

These group members don't agree on a lot of things but they all agree how to answer the question, "What does it take to get to heaven?"

And, "What does it take to have our sins forgiven?"

There are all in 100% agreement on those two questions and how to answer those two questions.

Pastor Art

Answer 8

Why not be like the early church and call the group, Christians. I am not a member of a denomination because Christ is Not divided into denominations or parts of the whole but if a group is not the whole in its location, it is not the church.

The church is within Christians, not a building or a synod or a fellowship. Christians follow the teachings left in the Last Will and Testament of Jesus. The Will went into effect after the death of the testator, Jesus.

In Matthew 16:16 and 18:18, Jesus told His holy and inspired apostles they would set up the church and what they bound on the church would be bound in heaven.

This process began in Acts, not in Matthew as many say.

The disciples were called Christians first in Antiock and that is good enough a name for me.

Answer 9

The non denominationals just make it up as they go like the rest of the protestant religions.

Answer 10

We do not ever claim that we are the only real Christians. Like so many others before me I will tell you why we call ourselves "Non-Denominational", it's simple really...we follow Christ, not a preacher on a pedastol. To us nothing else matters except God, believing in God has nothing at all to do with the rules of the church that a few people sat around a table on Mondays mornings and decided everyone should follow. For us being Non-Denominational means that we will sit around and follow our Bible, after all it came from God, Not old men stuck in the 18th century.